Zlatan Ibrahimovic Confirms Nike Switch
Update #4: Slipping into the most recent colorway of the Nike Mercurial, everything indicates that Ibrahimovic has already or is close to officially signing with the Swoosh again.
Update #3: After many months of wearing Adidas, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was back in Nike Mercurials for the Premier League game against Everton. So he will he officially join the Swoosh again soon? We'll keep you updated as things evolve.
Update #2: Everything indicates that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will officially join Adidas soon after he was spotted wearing the unreleased Adidas X 16.1 Red Limit soccer boots ahead of today's Europa League clash against Feyenoord. He previously laced up in white Nike Mercurial Vapor 10 boots.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Join Adidas Very Soon - Swedish Superstar Trains in Unreleased Adidas X Boots
Close-up with Zlatan's cleats, which are not modified.
Update: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has started the yesterday night's match against Manchester City wearing the white and golden Adidas X Stellar Pack cleats, while he surprisingly switched back to the white Nike Mercurial Vapor X Radiant Reveal boots for the second half. This makes it less likely that he has joined Adidas, as he laced up in branded Nike cleats and not in unbranded ones.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Switches Back to Nike's Mercurial Vapor 10 Boots in Halftime
Zlatan Ibrahimovic wore different boots in the second half against City, similar to Messi and Neymar who also switched boots during half-time against Manchester City last week.
Update: As expected, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is wearing Adidas boots for the game against Chelsea. This could mean that Ibrahimovic has actually joined the 3-stripe brand after what seems like an eternity with Nike. Despite wearing blackouts on several occasion, he hadn't been wearing branded Adidas cleats for years.
Update 23/10/2016: Ibrahimovic will likely debut the modified Adidas X Stellar Pack boots in today's Premier League clash against Chelsea after he was not able to wear the cleats in the Europa League match against Fenerbahce as he wasn't subbed on. It was the first time that Ibrahimovic was spotted wearing Adidas boots ahead of an match for several years.
Ibrahimovic Spotted in Adidas X Stellar Pack Boots Ahead of Fenerbahce Europa League Match
Zlatan Ibrahimović ahead of the match against Fenerbahce.
Update 19/10/2016: Zlatan Ibrahimovic today surprisingly laced up in a modified version of the Adidas X 16.1 boots from the Stellar Pack after he previously laced up in Nike's white Mercurial Vapor X from the Radiant Reveal pack, fueling rumors that he could join the Three Stripes.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Trains in Modified Adidas X 16.1 Stellar Pack Boots
Close-up with Zlatan's cleats, which feature - at least - a custom lacing system for the Swedish superstar.
Featuring the stunning design of the white, black and golden Adidas X 16.1 Stellar Pack boots, Ibrahimovic's modified cleats come with just three lacing loops instead of the five of the regular version. The upper seems to be also modified for the Swedish superstar, while the image does not clarify that for sure.
However, while we have to wait for more pictures in order to say what exactly has been modified for Zlatan, the fact that he wears modified football boots makes it likely that he joins the Three Stripes.
Update 30/07/2016: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has debuted his custom Nike Mercurial Vapor boots in today's first friendly against Galatasray scoring his first goal for the Red Devils with a spectacular overhead kick. Zlatan has been previously spotted wearing Adidas shoes at his arrival in Manchester fueling rumors that he would join the Three Stripes.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Debut Custom Nike Mercurial Vapor 11 Euro 2016 Boots
Close-up with Zlatan's custom boots.
Boasting the famous design of the Nike Mercurial Vapor XI Euro 2016 cleats, Zlatan Ibrahimovic wore a standard FG version of the boots with the custom text 'Ibrahimovic' and the date '04.09.2014' on the instep (Ibrahimović scored his 50th international goal in a 2–0 friendly match victory over Estonia on September 4 2014).
Zlatan Ibrahimovic during his first public training as Man Utd player
Zlatan Ibrahimovic during his first interview as Man Utd player
Close-up with Zlatan's shoes
Update 17/06/2016: Although he was again wearing Adidas X cleats in yesterday's training, Zlatan Ibrahimovic took the pitch for the game between Sweden and Italy wearing Nike football boots.
Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who recently launched his own sportswear brand, appears set to join Adidas after he was spotted wearing Adidas X 16.1 football boots in training.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Debut Custom Adidas X 16+ PureChaos Boots
Having worn Nike Mercurial Vapor cleats throughout almost his entire career, Ibrahimovic prompted speculation over a brand switch wearing blacked-out boots in early 2015. From the start of the 2015-16 season and up until the first Euro 2016 game, against Ireland, Ibrahimovic was once again back in regular, branded Nike Mercurial Vapor boots.
Close-ups of the two different Adidas X 16 boots worn by Ibrahimovic in training
Today, appearing in training ahead of Friday's game against Italy, Ibrahimovic was spotted wearing Adidas X 16 cleats, once again igniting the rumor mill. And not only that, there are two different versions that were worn by Sweden's number 10: while the first one quite obviously is a regular X 16.1, the second appears to be a custom edit of the Adidas X 16+ PureChaos in the way that the lace-cover was removed to reveal the underlying lacing and to possibly allow for better adjusting of the fit.
Do you think Zlatan will officially join Adidas soon? Let us know in the comments below.
Vintage Football Shirts
from Cult Kits
2010/11 Denmark *Player Issue* GK Shirt (XL) Adidas
2024/25 Argentina Messi #10 *BNWT* Home Shirt (Multiple Sizes) Adidas
2003/05 Benfica Simao #20 *BNWT* Centenary Home Shirt (XL) Adidas
1990'S Puma 'Midfielder Top' Football Boots (10.5)
2012/13 New York Red Bulls Hertzog #6 *Player Issue* Home Shirt (L) Adidas
2003 Shonan Bellmare #23 *Player Issue* L/S Home Shirt (M) Puma
2000/01 Everton Gerrard #1 GK Shirt (M) Puma
1995/97 Adidas GK 'Terminator' Template Shirt (S)
2017/18 Preston Nike Training Jacket (M)
1990 Ennerre #16 Template Shirt (L)
River Plate Unearth Previously Unknown 1914 Crest
Argentine giants River Plate have officially unveiled a previously undiscovered crest from 1914. The historic emblem was revealed by the club's Museum, Trophies, and History Department as part of their 125th-anniversary celebrations. With the official recognition of this newly found design, the total number of crests used throughout River Plate's extensive history has now risen to 24.
The vintage logo features a circular shape characterized by striking Art Nouveau typography, perfectly reflecting the popular artistic trends of the early 20th century. This unique piece of footballing heritage was discovered on an original membership card belonging to Esteban Fortunati, the club's fourth-ever member and a key figure who served as vice president and treasurer during their formative years. The historic document was recently brought to the River Plate museum by his great-granddaughter, Florencia Gilardón, allowing the club to officially preserve the forgotten emblem.
This discovery offers a rare glimpse into the early visual identity of River Plate, showcasing a completely different aesthetic long before their iconic "CARP" monogram became a globally recognized symbol.
How do you think this circular 1914 Art Nouveau crest compares to River Plate's modern badges? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Hertha Berlin Announces Sparda-Bank Berlin as New Front-of-Shirt Sponsor
German 2. Bundesliga side Hertha BSC has officially announced a new front-of-shirt sponsorship agreement. Starting July 1, the logo of Sparda-Bank Berlin will feature prominently across the chest of the club's kits. The cooperative bank is stepping up its involvement with the capital city club, having already served as Hertha's official sleeve sponsor during the previous campaign.
The new primary sponsorship contract is set to run for four seasons, keeping Sparda-Bank Berlin on the front of the shirts until the end of the 2029-2030 season. This long-term agreement marks the official end of the club's relationship with previous main sponsor Checkcars24, whose branding will no longer appear on the club's uniforms. Checkcars24 did not pay Hertha for more than half a year, which led to the end of the deal.
Hertha Managing Director Peter Görlich praised the expanded partnership, highlighting the bank's strong regional roots and the proven success of their existing relationship. According to the club's official press release, the new deal will extend far beyond matchday visibility, with both parties committed to tackling specific social initiatives over the next four years. These upcoming community projects will include promoting financial education, supporting partner clubs in the Brandenburg region, and funding campaigns in the fight against cancer.
ADO Den Haag 2026-27 Home Kit Released
ADO Den Haag has unveiled its new home kit for the 2026-27 season. Made by Erreà, the shirt comes in the club's traditional yellow and green colours. The design references the club's story, its anthem and a sense of pride.
Matching shorts and socks complete the home matchday range, offered in adult, women's and kids sizes.
The kit is now available to order through the official online store. It will also be sold in the club store starting tomorrow.
Adidas F50 Messi 2026 World Cup 'El Último Tango' Signature Boots Leaked - 3 New Pictures
Footy Headlines can now leak 3 real pictures of the new Adidas F50 Messi 2026 World Cup 'El Último Tango' signature boots. It will be released soon.
The 'El Último Tango' boots feature a white base with sky blue accents and gold detailing, drawing inspiration from the Argentina national team and blending classic 2006 aesthetics with modern technology.
Adidas Authentic Kit Badge Features Hidden UV Print
A detail on Adidas Authentic kit has drawn attention after being shared by @albxrnxz. The patch labeled "Authentic" reveals additional text when viewed under ultraviolet light. This applies to national team shirts, including those from the Argentina selección, and other recent Adidas kits. The feature serves as an extra verification step beyond standard tags and labels.
The observation highlights how Adidas incorporates advanced elements into its player versions and Authentic products. A heat-applied label combined with UV printing acts as a seal of authenticity, as noted on official product pages for items like the Argentina 2026 jerseys. This helps distinguish genuine merchandise from replicas.
The measure fits into Adidas' updates for the 2026 World Cup collection. Similar hidden UV prints appear in logos and badges across Authentic kits to address counterfeiting concerns. Fans can use a basic UV light to check their jerseys, adding a practical layer for collectors and buyers.
Germany 2026 World Cup Numbers Announced
The German national team has released its official squad shirt numbers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Manuel Neuer retains the number one jersey in goal, with Oliver Baumann at twelve and Alexander Nübel at twenty-one. Defensively, Antonio Rüdiger wears two, Joshua Kimmich six, Nico Schlotterbeck fifteen, and Malick Thiaw twenty-four. On the attacking side, Jamal Musiala takes the ten, Florian Wirtz seventeen, Jamie Leweling nine, and Leroy Sané nineteen.
Goalkeepers
1 – Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
12 – Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim)
21 – Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart)
Defenders
2 – Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid)
3 – Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund)
4 – Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich)
5 – Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich)
6 – Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
13 – Pascal Groß (Borussia Dortmund)
15 – Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund)
16 – Angelo Stiller (VfB Stuttgart)
18 – Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt)
22 – David Raum (RB Leipzig)
23 – Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund)
24 – Malick Thiaw (AC Milan)
Forwards
7 – Kai Havertz (Arsenal)
8 – Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich)
9 – Jamie Leweling (VfB Stuttgart)
10 – Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
11 – Nick Woltemade (VfB Stuttgart)
14 – Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund)
17 – Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)
19 – Leroy Sané (Galatasaray)
20 – Nadiem Amiri (Mainz 05)
25 – Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich)
26 – Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart)
Germany, drawn in Group E, will face Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador as they begin their quest for a fifth FIFA World Cup title.

















